Here we go again. I didn't think I would be writing an article like this again so soon after I wrote extensively about "Blade Runner 2049," but it appears that if you are a fan of 3D movies and IMAX movies, you have a choice to make if you want to see "Justice League." Now, personally, I don't think the movie is worth seeing in any format. Like, really, truly not worth seeing in any format. That said, I know there are many of you reading this that DO want to see it, and want to know whether it is worth seeing in RealD 3D or IMAX 2D! Unlike last time we went through this, I actually managed to see the movie in both formats in the last few days, so I think I can properly judge which version is the best. And before we continue I need to stress this: I saw "Justice League" TWICE within three days so I could do this comparison 'justice,' so don't let my pain go to waste!
Okay? Ok...
Unlike "Blade Runner 2049," director Zach Snyder ways always shooting "Justice League" to be a 3D movie. Granted, he was filming in 2D with the intention of upconversion later on, but he was still framing certain shots knowing that they would have a third dimension down the road. However, tragedy struck when his daughter committed suicide, and suddenly making a dark superhero movie wasn't a top priority anymore, and so he stepped down as director, and Joss Whedon was brought in to finish the film. It should be noted that for Synder this was absolutely the right thing to do and I don't fault him one bit for it. That is a bit of a wake up call, and if it comes down to family and a movie...you pick family every single time. That said, when Whedon came onboard there was no way he could really know what Synder was going for, and from all accounts the studio heads weren't impressed with the film as it was coming along anyway, and tasked Whedon with retooling it.
Though Synder still receives sole directing credit, apparently Whedon changed a LOT of what was originally there, wrote new scenes, and even cut whole characters out of the movie! He added more color. Also, he wasn't shooting with 3D in mind. And even if he was there was only a small chance that it would match with Snyder's vision. That means, when you watch the movie in general, the film is a visual and tonal mess. It is almost fascinating to watch because you can very clearly tell what scenes are Synder scenes and what scenes are Whedon scenes. You can feel the differences from sequence to sequence, and there is almost no consistency to the final project. This, I'm sorry to say, extends to the 3D version. Watching "Justice League" in 3D is frustrating as it is WILDLY inconsistent in quality! There are scenes when the 3D is popping and everything is working as it should, reminding us of how good 3D can be.
Then you have...the other scenes. The "other" scenes is where the 3D is jerky, ghosty, and in some cases down right flat looking. These scenes may be the worst 3D I've seen in a LONG time! It's "The Last Airbender" and "Clash of the Titans" level of bad! It is very, very discouraging to see the transfer get as bad as it does at times. Also, I guess I should note, that even when the 3D is good, it isn't that good. It's good enough to pass with two action sequences being of especially high quality, but otherwise there isn't much to write home about. So, while the RealD 3D version of "Justice League" is far from a total wash, it is inconsistent enough to make seeing it in IMAX 2D the preferred option. Seeing that Warner Bros. is one of the few companies still releasing BluRay 3D's (minus "Blade Runner 2049" of course), I'm hoping they will fix the 3D to be more viewable at home, but we'll just have to wait and see.
The only thing that doesn't make this a black and white situation is that whether you are watching a good 2D version and a sometimes good/sometimes bad 3D version, the bottom line is you're still seeing "Justice League." Unlike "Blade Runner 2049," this isn't a movie worth seeing in either format, and it's not like either one really helps or hurts the movie anymore than it already does. So I think the question of this post is sort of moot when you get down to it. Whether you see something in 3D or 2D I think we can all agree you want that movie to be good. And - seeing that MoviePass isn't going to get you into either of these premium formats anyway - it might just be worth passing this one up altogether and save your money for what is surely going to be a far superior theatrical experience in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." If you must see this I guess I sort of lean towards IMAX 2D, but the 3D version has enough good moments that neither is a total waste.
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